U.S. and Switzerland Sign Protocol to UBS Treaty

U.S. and Switzerland Sign Protocol to UBS Treaty

On March 31, 2010, the U.S. and Switzerland signed a protocol to the 2009 agreement that called on Switzerland to provide administrative assistance under Article 26 (Exchange of information) of the Switzerland-U.S. income tax treaty regarding information on the U.S. clients of UBS (UBS Agreement). Although the terms of the protocol were not provided to the public, the Swiss Federal Council said that the revised UBS Agreement created the necessary legal basis for the Switzerland’s tax administration to issue final decisions on “cases regarding continued and serious tax evasion” and permitted Switzerland to comply with its obligations to the U.S. as required under international law.